Title: Kick, Push
Author: Jay McLean
Release Day: August 4, 2015
BLURB
There’s a single defining moment within every skater.
It lasts only a second. Two if you're good.
Three if you’re really good.
It’s the moment you’re in the air, your board somewhere beneath you, and nothing but wind surrounds you.
It’s the feeling of being airborne.
The sixteen-year-old version of me would’ve said it was the greatest feeling in the world.
Then at seventeen, I had my son.
And every single second became a defining moment. Even the ones that consisted of heartbreak when his mother left us.
Seventeen. Single. Dad.
That’s what my life became.
Yet, every day, I managed to find that feeling of being airborne.
Or at least I convinced myself I did.
But I lied—to myself and to everyone around me.
Until she showed up; Tanned skin, raven dark hair, and eyes the color of emeralds.
You know what sucks about being in the air?
Coming down from the high.
Sometimes you land on the board and nail the trick.
Then kick, push, and coast away.
Other times you fall.
You fall hard.
And those are the times when it’s not as easy to get back up, dust off your pads and try again.
Especially when the girl with the emerald eyes becomes your drug...
And you become her poison.
★★★★ 1/2 stars
I don't even know where to start with this book. I'm still trying to process all the feelings I had. First of all this book has blown me away. I knew this subject material wasn't going to be easy to read because Jay is known for writing material that's hard and real. I wasn't expecting it to affect me so much but I should have.
Josh won me over from the first page. The prologue is long but by the end of it, I was fully connected to him. His emotions became my emotions; his fears became my own. I don't see how anyone could not love him. He's a dedicated father, willing to make sacrifices and be there for his child. He works hard and is trying to do the best with what he has. I loved seeing him with Tommy. I loved Tommy too. He had this innocence surrounding him that was capable of first piercing Becca's shield.
What can I say about Becca? I knew from the moment she appeared that she'd been though some really horrible things. I knew I was going to be devastated when they were revealed, but I let my guard down and I let her in too. When everything came out and was said and done, it felt like I had a crater in my chest and a never ending food of tears. I was right. I wanted to reach into the book and gather her in my arms and rock her back forth as mother does a young child. She more than Josh, broke my heart.
Josh and Becca had wonderful chemistry. It was easy to see how much they felt for one another. I really liked how they took it slow. Even with the overwhelming connection between them, neither of them was quite ready for the physical part of the relationship while they were still working on the emotional part. That being said, I got so frustrated with those two. Yes they both have gigantic baggage, most of it emotional. However the lack of communication between the two of them drove me nuts. It caused so many problems for them. They both had an extremely difficult time discussing the past and handling things, so I wished they could've trusted each other and they love they had for one another to see them though difficult times instead of falling apart.
I loved seeing Chloe and Hunter from Where the Road Takes Me. They made brief appearances that had a lasting impact. I loved the family Josh made for himself; his step uncle Rob and aunt Kim, Grams (Chazarae), and Becca. There may have been times when Josh felt lonely, but he was never alone. He had an amazing support system. Josh and Becca's story didn't end on the last page of Kick Push. I sincerely hope to see the two of them in another book of any length. They may love each other with every fiber of their soul's but they also hurt each other to the core as well. I would've love to see them in some time when they've matured and can love the way they should. Their love is something beautiful and I can't wait to read more about it.
AUTHOR BIO
Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she's not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show.
Jay is an avid reader, writer, and most of all, procrastinator. When she's not doing any of those things, she can be found running after her two little boys, or devouring some tacky reality TV show.
She writes what she loves to read, which are books that can make her laugh, make her smile, make her hurt, and make her feel.
For publishing rights (Foreign & Domestic) Film, or television, please contact her agent, Erica Spellman-Silverman, at Trident Media Group.
AUTHOR LINKS
AUTHOR LINKS
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*
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